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The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry’s budget deliberations wrapped up February 16th with a planned 1.2 per cent tax increase to the counties portion of property tax bills. Overall, the 2016 budget will […]

On July 23, Laurie Turriff, owner of the Iroquois-based Something Old Something New, donated $800 to Candlelighters. Turriff first heard of the non-profit organization when a relative’s son was diagnosed with cancer. She pointed out that while there are many charity organizations focusing on different types of cancer for adults, there are “few that help out the children and their families.”

Candlelighters is exclusively set up for children age 18 and under, as well as their families, who are coping with the unique challenges associated with a positive diagnosis of cancer. Members of the program receive emotional as well as financial support.

Tammy Johnston and her son Nash Nesbitt-Johnston are members of Candlelighters. Diagnosed with and treated for cancer last year, Nash is now in remission.

During treatment, Johnston said that without the support of Candlelighters, she would have lost her home. The Ottawa-based organization also provided Nash with a laptop to stay on top of his studies and connected to his friends. Through his membership with Candlelighters, Nash met Ottawa Senators player Chris Phillips and his wife Erin Phillips, chair of the Candlelighers board of directors. Nash was also invited to use the Candlelighters’ suite at Scotiabank Place to watch many of the Ottawa Senators games this past season.

Get ready, members of Canada’s Dragons’ Den. Derrick Jansen, Brett Fodey, Liam Adams and T.J. Barnhardt may only be in grade six at Iroquois Public School, but they already have serious entrepreneurial plans, and an eye to saving the environment at the same time.

The four students of Madame Chantal Lacroix have entered the Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship competition sponsored by the Upper Canada District School Board which will take place on May 1, 2015. They could take home a $500 prize in the junior category should they win.

The challenge set by ICE: How Can You Change the World?

Working on computers, paper, and the classroom SmartBoard, Derrick, T.J., Liam and Brett have designed a unique web page. Every Monday, following research and planning, the site posts a new environmental challenge. By accepting and acting on the challenge, consumers could actively affect their community.

“Something like global warning is just too big for us to deal with directly,” explained Derrick. “We decided to centre on our own community.”

“As part of our page, we put up quotes which show people how they can change their own environment one step at a time,” said Liam.

For example, the challenge issued two weeks ago on the page had to do with shopping habits. “When you go to the grocery store,” Brett explained, “pick up at least one thing to put in the Food Bank Bin. That directly helps people in this area.”

“Another week, we challenged people to choose a different way to go to work,” said Derrick. “The point is to find a new way to look at the scenery and to rediscover our local area. That will make you happier, and nicer to be around, and you will get more done at work.”

“Brain storming, problem solving, this whole project is student driven,” said Mme. Lacroix. “All the teacher can do is assist the students.”

To win the May 1 competition, the four students must go on stage alone before a judging panel. On stage they must “make a (personal) pitch.” While they have access to a projector for PowerPoint, a microphone, and the right to bring in prototypes or product samples, the boys must directly address the audience, and the judges.

They have two minutes to set up on stage, and 10 minutes to present. Following their presentation, they must respond to questions from the judges, just like the format in Dragons’s Den. Later, they will learn if their pitch has been successful.

“We are really nervous,” T.J. said, “but we are working on our script and we will practice a lot.What we want is to get noticed, to get people to pay more attention to their environment. We’ll really have to know our stuff.”

The four boys and their teacher travelled to a special planning day, on March 26, held at Kemptville Municipal Centre where they took part in an ICE workshop involving inspirational videos, planning and presentation, and goal setting.

“We really focussed on the different parts of making a pitch,” said Derrick.

The students have already gone themselves into the community to connect with local businesses and with the media to develop awareness of their project.

At this point, the IPS website is only on FaceBook and Twitter.

“We want to create an Application,” said Brett. “The junior prize would allow us to launch an App.”

These young Iroquois student entrepreneurs are definitely planning to be noticed in the board competition on May 1.